WLTX

WLTX is a television station serving Columbia, South Carolina, and surrounding communities in the Midlands. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 19 and is affiliated with CBS. Its operations include local news, weather, sports, public-service reporting, syndicated programming, network programming, and digital media distributed through its website and related platforms. The station's studios are located on Garners Ferry Road in southeastern Columbia, while its transmitter is situated on Screaming Eagle Road in rural northeastern Richland County. WLTX began broadcasting on September 1, 1953, as WNOK-TV on UHF channel 67. It was established by Palmetto Radio Corporation, the owner of radio station WNOK, and initially carried programming from CBS and the DuMont Television Network. The station entered a difficult competitive environment. WIS-TV, which operated on the more accessible VHF channel 10, quickly became the dominant station in central South Carolina, while UHF viewers generally needed converters and often received weaker signals. WLTX therefore spent much of its early history as a distant second-place competitor. The station moved from channel 67 to channel 19 in June 1961 after federal regulators reorganized Columbia's channel allocations. The lower UHF channel improved the station's technical position, and a new Garners Ferry Road facility opened in 1967. WLTX also expanded its technical reach through a major power increase completed in 1985. The new tower and transmission facilities substantially enlarged the station's coverage area, reaching communities including Orangeburg and Newberry and improving reception across the wider market. In 1977, Palmetto Radio announced the sale of its radio and television properties to Lewis Broadcasting, controlled by Savannah businessman and politician Julius Curtis Lewis Jr. The transaction closed in 1978, when WNOK-TV adopted the WLTX call letters. The new identity was intended to provide a more distinctive and memorable brand, while the radio stations continued under related ownership. During the Lewis era, the station experimented with limited secondary programming from the United Paramount Network between 1995 and 1997, but its principal identity remained that of a CBS affiliate and local broadcaster. Gannett announced its acquisition of WLTX in 1998, and the purchase closed later that year. Under Gannett, the station invested heavily in its newsroom, facilities, technology, staffing, and schedule. A studio expansion completed in 2001 added space for newsroom and production operations, and WLTX became Columbia's first commercial television station to broadcast digitally in 2002. Gannett's broadcast and digital assets were separated from its newspaper business in 2015, with WLTX becoming part of Tegna. The station's news operation expanded substantially from the 1990s onward. It added morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts and strengthened its weather operation with Doppler radar. The hiring of meteorologist Jim Gandy and broader investments in local journalism helped WLTX become a more credible competitor to WIS. WLTX later achieved notable audience gains, including periods in which it surpassed WIS in selected newscasts and demographic groups. In 2015, the station received an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for its investigative series 'DSS: When the System Fails,' which examined problems involving South Carolina's Department of Social Services. WLTX completed the transition to digital-only broadcasting in 2009 and moved its physical digital transmission assignment from channel 17 to channel 15 in 2019 as part of the United States spectrum-repacking process. Its current brand combines CBS network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, investigative work, community reporting, and digital content. In the reference chronology, Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tegna in March 2026, making WLTX part of Nexstar's sta…

WLTX traces its origins to Palmetto Radio Corporation, owner of Columbia radio station WNOK. The company initially sought a VHF allocation for a Columbia television station but ultimately applied for UHF channel 67 after the market's available channel structure changed. The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit in September 1952, and WNOK-TV began broadcasting on September 1, 1953. It carried CBS and DuMont programming and became Columbia's third television station. The station faced a structural disadvantage from its use of UHF channel 67. WIS-TV operated on VHF channel 10, which most households could receive without a converter, and became the dominant station in central South Carolina. WNOK-TV struggled commercially and technically, while fellow UHF station WCOS-TV closed in January 1956. WNOK-TV acquired some of WCOS-TV's business assets and added selected ABC programming, but repeated efforts to obtain or create a more favorable VHF allocation failed. A regulatory channel reorganization provided a partial solution. On June 12, 1961, WNOK-TV moved to UHF channel 19. The station also developed a new physical plant after the Hotel Jefferson, where its studios had been located, was sold. Construction of the Garners Ferry Road studio and office complex began in 1966, and the stations moved there in June 1967. The facility was larger than its predecessor and supported two television studios. The station subsequently increased its effective radiated power and began producing live local programming in color in 1968. Palmetto Radio agreed in 1977 to sell WNOK's radio and television operations to Lewis Broadcasting, owned by Julius Curtis Lewis Jr. The sale closed in 1978, and WNOK-TV became WLTX. The new call letters helped distinguish the television station from the radio properties and gave it a shorter promotional identity. In 1985, a new high-power transmission facility and 2,049-foot tower greatly expanded the station's coverage. The improvement brought its signal closer to the reach of WIS and strengthened service to outlying communities. WLTX remained behind WIS for much of the next several decades, particularly in local news. Its late-evening news offering was reduced to a short update in the 1970s and later replaced by syndicated programming. Beginning in the early 1990s, news director Carolyn Powell expanded the operation with additional updates and full newscasts. A seven-day, 30-minute 11 p.m. newscast began in 1996, followed by morning and midday broadcasts. The station also briefly carried United Paramount Network programming on a secondary basis from 1995 to 1997. Gannett announced its purchase of WLTX in February 1998, with the transaction closing in April. The ownership change brought leadership turnover and significant investment. Gannett expanded the Garners Ferry Road facility, added newsroom and production space, upgraded weather capabilities, and broadened the station's news schedule. Jim Gandy joined the station as its principal meteorologist at the end of 1999 after many years at rival WIS. Although audience gains were gradual, WLTX became WIS's strongest long-term challenger and occasionally led in particular time periods or demographic segments. The station became the first commercial television outlet in Columbia to broadcast digitally in 2002. Its analog service ended in June 2009, and its digital transmission later moved from channel 17 to channel 15 in September 2019 under the national spectrum-repacking plan. In 2015, WLTX's investigative reporting on the South Carolina Department of Social Services received an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award. Gandy retired in 2019, while the station continued developing local news and digital products. The supplied reference material states that Tegna was acquired by Nexstar in March 2026, placing WLTX within Nexstar's ownership structure.

1. 2019Digital channel changes to 15

   WLTX moved its digital transmission assignment from channel 17 to channel 15.

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2. 2015DuPont award for investigative reporting

   WLTX received an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for its reporting on South Carolina's Department of Social Services.

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3. 2009Digital-only operation

   The station ended analog broadcasting as part of the United States digital television transition.

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4. 2002Digital broadcasting begins

   WLTX became the first commercial station in Columbia to broadcast digitally.

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5. 1998Gannett acquisition closes

   Gannett completed its purchase of WLTX from Lewis Broadcasting.

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6. 1996Full late-evening newscast launches

   WLTX began a full 30-minute 11 p.m. newscast seven nights a week.

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7. 1985Major transmitter upgrade

   A high-power transmitter and tall tower substantially enlarged the station's coverage area.

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8. 1978WNOK-TV becomes WLTX

   Following the Lewis Broadcasting acquisition, the station adopted the WLTX call letters.

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9. 1967Garners Ferry Road facility opens

   WLTX and its associated radio operations moved into a larger studio and office complex.

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10. 1961Move to channel 19

    The station changed its UHF assignment from channel 67 to channel 19.

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11. 1953WNOK-TV begins broadcasting

    WNOK-TV signed on September 1 as a CBS and DuMont affiliate on channel 67.

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12. 1952Construction permit granted

    The FCC granted Palmetto Radio Corporation authority to build a Columbia television station on UHF channel 67.

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A locally focused CBS affiliate positioned around news, weather, investigative reporting, community relevance, and service to the Columbia and Midlands television market.

• Local newsTelevision news

  WLTX produces local morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts focused on Columbia and communities across the Midlands. The operation expanded considerably from a limited schedule in the station's early decades into a full-service newsroom with breaking news, investigative reporting, politics, public affairs, and community coverage.

• Weather coverageBroadcast meteorology

  Weather forecasting is a central part of WLTX's service proposition. The station expanded its weather capabilities under Gannett ownership, including the use of Doppler radar, and distributes forecasts and severe-weather information through television and digital channels.

• CBS programmingNetwork television1953

  WLTX carries CBS network programming as the Columbia market's CBS affiliate. Network content complements the station's locally produced news, weather, sports, and public-service output.

• Digital news and videoDigital media

  The WLTX brand extends beyond over-the-air television through wltx.com and associated digital distribution. These services provide local articles, video, weather information, alerts, and other updates for viewers in the station's broadcast market.

• 2018Street Squad community reporting

  Columbia · The Midlands of South Carolina

  WLTX piloted Tegna's Street Squad model, emphasizing community-based reporting and direct engagement with local residents.

  Outcome. Station management credited the model as one factor contributing to improved audience performance.

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• 2015DSS: When the System Fails

  South Carolina

  WLTX investigated problems and dysfunction involving South Carolina's Department of Social Services.

  Outcome. The reporting received the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.

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• 2026Acquisition of Tegna by NexstarM&A

  The supplied reference material states that Nexstar announced an acquisition of Tegna in 2025.

  What changed. According to that reference chronology, the transaction closed in March 2026 and placed WLTX under Nexstar ownership.

  Aftermath. WLTX remained an active Columbia television station and retained its local brand.

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• 2015Transfer to TegnaStrategy

  Gannett separated its publishing operations from its broadcast and digital media business.

  What changed. WLTX was retained by the newly formed broadcast and digital company, Tegna.

  Aftermath. The station continued operating under the WLTX brand as part of Tegna's local television portfolio.

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• 1998Sale to GannettM&A

  Lewis Broadcasting was seeking a buyer while the Lewis family planned its estate.

  What changed. Gannett acquired WLTX, completing the purchase in April 1998.

  Aftermath. Gannett expanded the newsroom, facilities, technology, and schedule, helping WLTX become a stronger competitor in local news.

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• 1985High-power transmission expansionStrategy

  WLTX needed broader coverage to compete more effectively with WIS and serve outlying communities.

  What changed. The station activated a new tower and increased effective radiated power to the maximum permitted for analog UHF stations.

  Aftermath. Coverage expanded substantially toward communities including Orangeburg, Newberry, Florence, Lancaster, and Aiken.

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• 1961Move from channel 67 to channel 19Strategy

  The original UHF channel created reception and competitive disadvantages compared with VHF station WIS-TV.

  What changed. WLTX accepted a revised channel allocation and moved its operation to UHF channel 19.

  Aftermath. The lower channel improved the station's technical position but did not immediately displace WIS as the market leader.

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• 2026Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna

  According to the supplied reference chronology, Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tegna, bringing WLTX into Nexstar's station group.

  M&A
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• 2019WLTX changes digital transmission channel

  The station moved its digital signal from channel 17 to channel 15 as part of the United States spectrum-repacking process following the wireless spectrum auction.

  OtherRegulation
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• 2015WLTX receives Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award

  The station was recognized for its investigative series 'DSS: When the System Fails,' which examined dysfunction within South Carolina's Department of Social Services.

  Other
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• 2015Gannett separates its broadcast and digital operations

  WLTX remained with the broadcast and digital company created when Gannett divided its publishing and broadcasting businesses; the new company was named Tegna.

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1. WLTX
2. WLTX official website